Mo Hayder

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Mo Hayder is a British crime novelist, author of the novels Birdman, The Treatment and Tokyo (known in some countries as The Devil of Nanking).

Hayder left school at fifteen, and has since worked as a barmaid, security-guard, filmmaker, hostess in a Tokyo club, and teacher of English as a foreign language. She was awarded an MA in film from American University and an MA in Creative Writing from Bath Spa University, a course on which she now lectures.

Her debut, Birdman, was published in 2000, mostly to wide acclaim, though some found the novel, which concerns a serial killer with a particularly vicious modus-operandi, too violent and disturbing. The book introduced protagonist DI Jack Caffery, who also featured in Hayder's second novel, The Treatment. This second novel tackled themes of paedophilia, though this time dealt with perhaps more sensitively than the themes of her first novel. Caffery is reported to return in Hayder's 5th novel, Throwing the Bones, scheduled for 2007.

Tokyo followed in 2004 to much critical praise. The book was shortlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger award, as well as several others. Her fourth novel, Pig Island was released in April 2006.

Hayder lives in Somerset, England with her partner, Keith Quinn, and daughter.